Matching Nouns and Adjectives in Arabic Grammar

Matching Nouns and Adjectives in Arabic Grammar | Learn Arabic Easily

Assalamu Alaikum! Welcome to My Arabic Class! Today, we’re going to learn about how to match nouns and adjectives in Arabic grammar—an essential skill for mastering the language!

Now, let’s get started! 🚀

1️⃣ What is an Adjective in Arabic?

An adjective (النَّعْت, an-na‘t) describes a noun (المَنْعُوت, al-man‘ūt). But in Arabic, adjectives must match the noun in four ways:

📌 1. Gender (Masculine/Feminine)
📌 2. Number (Singular/Dual/Plural)
📌 3. Case (Nominative/Accusative/Genitive)
📌 4. Definiteness (Definite/Indefinite)

Let’s look at each one with examples!

2️⃣ Gender Agreement

If the noun is masculine, the adjective is masculine.
If the noun is feminine, the adjective is feminine (often ending in ـة).

✅ كِتابٌ جَديدٌ (kitābun jadīdun) – A new book (masculine)
✅ سَيّارَةٌ جَديدَةٌ (sayyāratun jadīdah) – A new car (feminine)

3️⃣ Number Agreement

Arabic has three numbers:
✔ Singular – One item
✔ Dual – Two items (ends in ـانِ / ـيْنِ)
✔ Plural – More than two (adjective form depends on human or non-human nouns)

Examples:
✅ رَجُلٌ طَويلٌ (rajulun ṭawīlun) – A tall man (singular)
✅ رَجُلانِ طَويلانِ (rajulāni ṭawīlāni) – Two tall men (dual)
✅ رِجالٌ طِوالٌ (rijālun ṭiwālun) – Tall men (plural)
✅ بُيوتٌ كَبيرةٌ (buyūtun kabīratun) – Big houses (plural, but adjective is singular feminine!)

Why? Non-human plural nouns take a singular feminine adjective!

4️⃣ Case Agreement

Arabic nouns change their endings depending on their role in the sentence:
✔ Nominative (ـٌ / ـانِ / ـونَ) – Subject
✔ Accusative (ـً / ـيْنِ / ـيْنَ) – Object
✔ Genitive (ـٍ / ـيْنِ / ـيْنَ) – After a preposition

Example:
📌 رَجُلٌ كَبيرٌ (rajulun kabīrun) – A big man (Nominative)
📌 رَأَيْتُ رَجُلاً كَبيراً (ra’aytu rajulan kabīran) – I saw a big man (Accusative)
📌 مِنْ رَجُلٍ كَبيرٍ (min rajulin kabīrin) – From a big man (Genitive)

5️⃣ Definiteness Agreement

If the noun has ال (the), the adjective must also have ال.
If the noun is indefinite, the adjective must also be indefinite.

✅ الكِتابُ الجَديدُ (al-kitābu al-jadīdu) – The new book (Both definite)
✅ كِتابٌ جَديدٌ (kitābun jadīdun) – A new book (Both indefinite)

So, to match nouns and adjectives in Arabic, remember:

✔ Gender (Masculine/Feminine)
✔ Number (Singular/Dual/Plural)
✔ Case (Nominative/Accusative/Genitive)
✔ Definiteness (Definite/Indefinite)

Want to practice? Comment below with a sentence using an adjective in Arabic! Let’s see if you got it right!

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